Article contentMarchand had 51 points in 71 games last season despite battling injuries and then added 20 points in 23 playoff games. The former Boston Bruins captain is 20 points shy of 1,000 for his career so there’s a good chance he will hit that milestone before Christmas.Article contentDrake Batherson, RW, Ottawa Senators: The leader of the next tier is New Minas’s Batherson.Article contentHe’s entering his seventh season in the nation’s capital and has been a model of consistency since hitting his stride a few years back. He broke out with 44 points in 46 games in 2021-22 and then posted 62 or more points in each of the past three seasons.Article contentThe ex-Cape Breton Eagles star also made his first NHL all-star game appearance in 2022 and, at 27 years old, is in his prime.Article contentMorgan Barron, C, Winnipeg Jets: Reliability and character make the Haligonian a valued bottom six forward in Manitoba.Article contentArticle contentThe six-foot-four centre appeared in 70-plus games for the third straight season last year and is relied on mostly for his checking abilities.Article contentJustin Barron, D, Nashville Predators: The younger half of the Halifax brother tandem is with his third franchise at just 23 years old but seems to have finally found a permanent home.Article contentThe ex-Mooseheads captain was in and out of the lineup with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche early in his career but seems entrenched as a regular in Nashville.Article contentLiam O’Brien, LW, Utah Mammoth: The 31-year-old is an old school throwback because of his robust physical game.Article contentAfter grinding at the edges of the NHL for his first seven years as a pro, the Halifax native is beloved by the fans and coaches in Utah for his hard-nosed style.Article contentMOOSEHEADS ALUMNIArticle contentMacKenzie Weegar, D, Calgary Flames: The 31-year-old was part of the 2022 blockbuster that sent Tkachuk to the Panthers and he’s been a stud on the Calgary blue-line ever since.Article contentArticle contentWeegar is a dark horse Norris trophy candidate every year and is always among the league leaders in the highly valuable, but less glamourous statistical categories like hits, takeaways and blocked shots.Article contentNikolaj Ehlers, LW, Carolina Hurricanes: After a decade of consistency in Winnipeg, this will be the Danish speedster’s first season in Carolina after he signed a six-year, $51 million contract as a free agent in July.Article contentNico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils: The Swiss gentleman is a contender for the Selke trophy every year and a highly respected captain.Article contentHe went straight to the NHL at 18 years old after being drafted first overall in 2017 following one spectacular season in Halifax.Article contentTimo Meier, RW, New Jersey Devils: Meier is also a Swiss Mooseheads alumnus but he had never been teammates with Hischier until arriving in New Jersey via a trade from San Jose in 2023.
NHL stocked with quality Nova Scotians and former Mooseheads for 2025-26
